A team of engineers from MIT developed a battery comprised of three molten metals that could be scaled for use in renewable energy applications. The liquid battery contains a dense mixture of lead and antimony, topped with a “molten salt electrolyte” layer and a layer of lithium floats on the top.
The liquid battery was tested and only lost six percent of its capacity through 450 full charge cycles. When a cell is discharged, the lithium layer transfers to the bottom layer. When electricity is directed into a cell, the lithium layer is drawn out of the alloy layer and returns to the top. The team is continuing to develop batteries for use in commercial renewable energy applications.
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